8.5/10

So many of life’s greatest questions have gone ages without being tested or answered. One man’s brilliance shined above the rest in answering those questions . The great Stephen Hawking. “The Theory Of Everything” is the extraordinary story of one of the world’s greatest living minds, the renowned astrophysicist Stephen Hawking (Eddie Redmayne), who falls deeply in love with fellow Cambridge student Jane Wilde (Felicity Jones). Once a healthy, active young man, Hawking received an earth-shattering diagnosis at 21 years of age. With Jane fighting tirelessly by his side, Stephen embarks on his most ambitious scientific work, studying the very thing he now has precious little of – time. Together, they defy impossible odds, breaking new ground in medicine and science, and achieving more than they could ever have dreamed. This movie already has so much of the early Oscars talk surrounding it that it totally doesn’t need my praise, but the film is very well made from director James Marsh. I didn’t know a lot about Hawking going into the film, and i found his story to be among the very best i have ever heard. If this review was based on story alone, i would definitely give this film a 10/10. As it stands, the movie does have some problems that i will get to later. The acting in this movie is absolutely spectacular. There is no one walking this planet who should play Hawking other than Redmayne. The actor’s charasmatic charm and body language in this film should place him at the forefront of the Best Actor of the year nominees. From the look of Hawking, to the voice tones, to the fact that most of his performance comes without words, this is Redmayne’s time to shine above the rest. There were so many times when i came close to tears because of how spiritually moving his performance was. Jones also deserves her praise. As Wilde, she faces her own challenges ahead with loving a man who can’t fully give 100% of his touch to her heart. She knows the pressures ahead of living to love Hawking, but she isn’t going anywhere. Felicity is quickly building herself as the next big thing in the best actress category for years to come. The film’s score is beautifully composed by Johann Johannson. He compliments the film’s galaxy shots of the planets and stars with a wonderful score that feels like it’s moving along to the stars flashing by in front of our very own eyes. The movie does serve as not only a reflection on Hawking’s work, but one of his love life. It resorts in the only thing that personally bothered me about the film. I felt like too much of the movie during the second act is about Hawking’s personal life, and not so much about the wonderful work in physics that he has done. I definitely understand that his romantic interests are important in telling the story, and anyone who knows about Hawking knows that there is a story in that aspect alone. I guess i just wanted to see him fighting to prove his theories correctly while battling the physical handicaps to the world’s most intelligent mind. It doesn’t do anything to really take away from the brilliance of writer Anthony Mccarren’s script, as it’s clear this guy has truly done his homework on the film’s protagonist. Clocking in at just under two hours, the movie perfectly flows before it runs into any major problems with the one negative i listed in this review. The movie won’t be widely released until mid December, but it’s definitely one that has to be seen when it hits theaters. Some religious crowds might find certain aspects of the film offensive, but i think there is enough scientific evidence to support Hawking’s theories, and self respect that he has for anyone who believes otherwise. Overall, i think this film’s meat and potatoes are definitely that of the performances from our two main characters. It’s in that aspect that this film rises to a height above the highest of stars that Hawking has studied. Truly a moving film for anyone who likes a “Beat the odds” kind of story.